African fish eagle

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Fish Eagle

What safari guides should know:

The Fish Eagle is a common resident of the Okavango and the call of this bird is without doubt one of the most evocative sounds of the African bush. All FGASA and BQA nature guide learners should be able to recognize both the bird and the call.
The female has a deeper call and she initiates more duets than the smaller male.
They are able to catch fish in excess of 3kg’s but these large fish are dragged to shore with the bird swimming, using their wings as paddles. They are occasionally taken by crocodiles while doing this.
Fish eagle also feed on monitor lizards, young crocodiles, waterfowl and raid quelea colonies.

Identification:

The white head and chestnut underparts make this bird unmistakable.

Distribution in Botswana:

The Okavango and adjacent Linyanti/Chobe systems are the fish eagle capital of the world with the highest densities anywhere. They also occur through eastern and south-eastern Botswana in lower numbers.